The Dominican Republic is a sovereign state occupying the eastern two thirds of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands, along with Saint Martin, that are shared by two countries. Christopher Columbus landed on the island on December 5, 1492 After more than three hundred years of Spanish rule the Dominican people declared independence in November 1821.